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Monday, 12 October 2009

Criminally Underrated Albums of the 2000's: #04

Dan le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip – Angles

In trying to put the (music) world to rights this one's a little easier. On release people either 'got' Angles, or they didn't. Those that got it made note of spokes-person Scroobius Pip's wordplay, even if they criticised le Sac's lo-fi, scratchy, electronics. Those that failed to 'get' this album slated Pip's skills as a rapper and in some cases bemoaned the fact that he was white.

Where most go wrong with Angles is approaching this as a rap album. It's not. It's really not. (Un)spoken word, is what Mr. Pip calls it, but spoken word is probably better. I can understand why it might get mistaken for rap – some of the narration is sped up and is backed by what can loosely be described as beats, but although it's nearest contemporary is The Streets this is something else completely.

If I'm honest, said 'beats' – le Sac's backing – aren't that great. But like Art Brut in their early stages, that's not important, what is important is what's being said. Thankfully what's being said on Angles is poetic, affecting and occasionally hilarious. Housing a hit single ('Thou Shalt Always Kill') could have been a burden for Angles, but there is much more here to carry it past that. One listen to fractured love song 'Look For The Woman', the goosebump-inducing title song, cinematic 'Waiting For The Beat To Kick In...' or 'Tommy C' - a documentation of beauty - should convince anyone with a soul that this album is worth it's time and weight in gold.

As far as pop music goes, Angles is solid gold. Just please, give it a listen.